Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. publicly apologized for his angry reaction after being substituted during the team's 2-1 "El Clásico" victory over Barcelona.
Vinicius was withdrawn by manager Xabi Alonso in the 71st minute and, visibly displeased, went straight to the dressing room. Despite his crucial role in the winning goal, the Brazilian's exit cast a pall over the celebratory moment.
In his social media apology, Vinicius apologized to Real Madrid fans, his teammates, the club, and President Florentino Perez, attributing his outburst to his intense competitive drive and desire to win. Notably, he made no mention of an apology to manager Xabi Alonso, with whom he has had a testy relationship since Alonso took over in May, frequently substituting the star.
Following his substitution, Vinicius later re-emerged to argue with Barcelona players after a fight broke out near the final whistle. Real Madrid currently leads the LaLiga standings by five points over second-place Barcelona.
